Woods, Stricker key US President's Cup surge

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) Tiger Woodss steel and Steve Strickers sensational work on the greens kept the pair perfect in four Presidents Cup matches Saturday and lifted America to a commanding three-point lead. The Americans lead 12.5-9.5 and need five points from Sundays 12 singles matches in order to win their sixth title in eight editions of the event that pits the US against a team from all corners of the globe except Europe. In characteristic style, 14-time major champion Woods engineered a come-from-behind victory in their morning foursomes in the final two holes. The world number one then had little to do but applaud as Stricker made seven birdies en route to their afternoon four-ball triumph, the first time the same duo have won four matches in a single Presidents Cup. Woods and Stricker were 1-down and facing their first defeat in three matches in the foursomes against Canadian Mike Weir and South African Tim Clark. Woods rolled in a 22-footer to square the match at 17, the ball nearly rolling to a halt before dropping in. Didnt have a choice, said Woods, who knew Weir was facing an easier task with a five-footer. If we miss, they make, its over. His jubilant fist pump ignited the crowd, and at 18 the show continued as Woods put the Americans eight feet from the pin in two while Weir and Clark were in the greenside rough and the Americans won the hole and the match with a conceded eagle. The stage is set, and he comes through again, Stricker said. Its pretty impressive. Internationals captain Greg Norman called those two holes the defining moment of the day. If Tiger doesnt make that putt on 17, and Weir makes the putt, its all over, Norman said. In the afternoon four-ball, Woods and Stricker built a 6-up lead through 12 holes over South Koreas Yang Yong-Eun and Japans Ryo Ishikawa. The Asian duo then won the next three holes with birdies to keep the match alive, before Woods and Stricker polished them off 4 and 2. I was cheerleading all day, Woods said of Strickers sizzling performance on the greens, which included a 32-foot birdie at 10 that even had Norman laughing and clapping Stricker on the back. I just said 'Enoughs enough, Norman said. He putted so impressively well. Every time I watched him he is making putts, so I figured Id just leave. The putter was my friend this afternoon, Stricker said. What (Woods) did this mornings round really made me want to do something and step up a little bit. American Phil Mickelson remained unbeaten, if not quite perfect, in four matches with different partners. After notching wins on the first two days with Anthony Kim and Justin Leonard, Mickelson teamed twice on Saturday with Sean OHair. They cruised to a 5 and 3 victory over South African Retief Goosen and Colombias Camilo Villegas in foursomes and rallied to halve their four-ball contest with Fijis Vijay Singh and South African Tim Clark. Both Mickelson and OHair missed birdie attempts at the final hole that would have given them a victory. Mickelson and OHair had been 2-down through 11, then Mickelson birdied 12 and OHair 13. At 14 Clark got it so close that his birdie was conceded, then Mickelson rolled in a 40-foot bomb. It was a fun match, Mickelson said. Tim and Vijay played great golf. Tim on his own ball was low 60s and for Sean and I to hang in there and get this back to even and really have a good chance on 18 ... we are certainly not disappointed with the push. Jim Furyk was a two-time winner on Saturday. He and Leonard wore down South African Ernie Els and Australian Adam Scott 4 and 2 in foursomes, then Furyk and Kim held off Argentinas Angel Cabrera and Scott for a 2-up four-ball win. South Koreas PGA Champion Yang and Japanese phenom Ishikawa delivered the Internationals only foursomes victory - a 3 and 2 triumph over Kenny Perry and Zach Johnson. Hunter Mahan and British Open champion Stewart Cink denied the Internationals another victory when they won the last hole of their foursomes against Singh and Australian Robert Allenby to halve after trailing from the fifth hole. Els and Weir regrouped to notch a 5 and 3 four-balls victory over Johnson and Leonard, and Allenby teamed with compatriot Geoff Ogilvy for a 2 and 1 victory over Cink and US Open champ Lucas Glover. Even with those victories, the Internationals face a daunting task. No team has rallied from a three-point deficit on the final day to win the title, and America have never lost on home soil. Obviously we have to win eight matches out of 12, Norman said. A lot of people are probably going to say thats a tall task, but it can be done.